Automatic steering device for traction-engines.



E'. M. WHEBLQGK. AUTOMATG STEERING DEVICE FOR TRAGTON ENGNES.

APPLICATION PILEB MAY 20, 1912.

Eff 41;/

frills E. M. WHBELGUK.

AUTOMATIG STEERING DEVICE EOE TEAGTIOII ENGINES.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 1l, 2913.

MQW E E,

Y 35 lt is a principal object of my invention to rrn sas rafrarvr AUTGMATIC STEERING DE'VGE'EOR TMCTOBWENGDKES.

1,052,5@90 Specification et Letters Patent. gitgitqil Eagle, jiji, 9 j afejlgg.

Application filed ay 20, 1912. Serial No. 1593,65@

provide means for operating the furrow steering wheel to turn the same which may also be used to turn the front or steering wheel of the traction engine proper. 50

The full obj ect-s and a vantages of my invention will appear in ecnneetion with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out i.nifyi.ieclaims.A

f n the drawings representing the appli- 65 cation of my invention in one form,-Figure l is a plan view of a traction engine showingv my improvements connected thereto., `Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the pilot .steering apparatus. Fig. is a front ele- 7a vation'of the same showing the pilot wheel in the furrow. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 23 after the pilot wheel has been drawn vout of the furrow. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view, partly in section, of the steering 75 nieoluniisuu rlf'ig. G is a detail view showing the means of operating the steering device.

rl`he frame l of the traction engine is supported hy traction wheels li, of usual type, and front steering wheels l2 secured a to a divided axle ifi hy means of stub axles lese-,cured to the axle i3 hy vertical pivot pins l5. The stub axles le are provided. with arms 16 extending inwardly at right angles thereto and connected by a oar l?. A steerse ing rod i8 extends horizontally at the hoff tom of the frame l0 passing through the axle '155 and having removably secured thereto steering chains i9 and Z0 secured to the ends of the arms lli. The rod i8 has thereso on at its rear end a sprocket wheei 'Tcl which is connected oy means of a spinclret chain 22 Yith a sprocket wheel on a horizontal TouZZ 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, EDWIN M. Wrrnnnoou,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Winona, in the county of Winona and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new an useful Improvements in Automatic teering Devices for Traetion-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automatic steer- 10 ing device for a traction engine, particularly such a device employed in connection witha traction engine in use for plowing.

It is the object of my invention to provide a steering device having a pilot wheel adapt ed to run in the furrow and contact with the side wall of the furrow, and thereby guide the engine at the proper distance from .the furrow so that the plows pulled thereby properly track. To effect this result, the

furrow pilot wheel will need to be set so as to turn in toward the furrow and constantly hug the furrow wall. ln devices of this type heretofore' employed, it has been a serious disadvantage that when the furrow was illed or if a plow had run out so there was no furrow, the turning of the wheel would cause the same to run away from the furrow, steering the engine too far from the furrow wall. For this reason, devices of this character have not been truly automatic lout have required attention and watching on the part of the operator so that whenever f the furrow, it

the wheel ran up on top or would have to loe turned back in again. provide means in connection with my furrow pilot wheel such that if it is caused to rise 'from the furrow to the level of the ground, shaft 2e upon which seeured the hand it will automatically he turned from the fursteering wheel 9.5. 1IWhen this wheel. is se 40 row wall toward the plowed ground with the rotated, the shaft 153 will. he rotated, winding result that when the obstruction is passed, up one and unwinding the other of the the wheel will again drop into the furrow, chains 19 `or 20, thus operating to swing returning to its original angular position to the stub axles le on their vertical pivots l5, continue 'guiding the engine. such swinging being simultaneously in the leo lt is a further object of my invention to same direct-ion loyv reason of the connecting -provide a supporting member for the furrow bar 17. pilot wheel involving a two-wheeled truck, Pivotally secured to the stub axle le at one wheel being the furrow pilot wheel and one side of the machine, preferably the right the ,other running on the unplowed land to side, is a frame member 25 which may he 105 support the truck and steady the wheel, in .a bar of channel iron, tubular iron, or other combination with means for turning j the similar member having a hearing on the stub wheels of the steering device independently axle le inside of the wheel l2, a strap 26 of the frame upon which said wheels are of such strength as is n edflbeing secured mounted, and also means for turning the to bar 25 and Q7, and offset so as to entend 110 frame or the supporting truck as a whole. in parallel relation to said har outside of the Tr. is also au ohieet -of rnv invention t0 wheel l2 and having a' hearing at the outer miie frame Wi, ,is of oscillation in n, vel 'be he em Jfezaim mreatve to the stub wie he oibe 'bearing thereon Stiege 26.

tween the points of connection of the limi; 38 to the and 01- arm 37 andi flange 29 Would very if said arm traveled in a vertical plane. Tf, i'herefee, link 38 is se Set that when piio Wheel 34 is in the botom of the f1rrow it Wilbe parallel with ii/'heel 35, when the pie; Wheel Sii is caused fo rise. out Gf the fihi-0W, since @the ini 38 is fixed in extent, a leverage Wil?. be produced which will Cause hewa 01: the furrow when 'positioned in Le by a turning of the frame or z'vne el bar 39,;i that 'his diiel'entia oseillmmn :is the' Wheel vrises will have he reeut ef compensating for the Working' an guamty 'ther tum th pnwed land The pilot Wheei and Wilfure wheel somewhat iowa-Td he causing the samey to return to iefurrow after the obstruction hs been' passed., when it 'Wl again drop down and in doing so wi be i'eturned by rod 88 :iciN to its initial operative l 353 :md i 1 .L -1 t mem ese-i1 ing thi-sugli arm 87' ofthe? poei'bmn..

be mounil? deemed, e spual spying 4,2 muy extend from to the upper end of Shaft- 87 .mrmajr eming "co force wheel 34 down i31- m the furrow and aiding in supporting and 'semiyiilg the end @f cross mi if, howm Whew-, 34 is made reasonably heavy,

ev that ne spring will be rel er, as

The zuppertng Wheel Wii be prefe seeurfed upm; he stub arde 43 py@- x'i'i a vedca Fed 44 having thereon show/'min 3, the rod secured te ,anges 29 und 3G Toes lf desireduhowever, mi? erde may be provic'eef;4 TVith un similia? i@ arm 3T and commen? by :n simiim ile link 38 Wih the Gange 29 ,ns Gf one o he hoes 40.. This 'form 'ecien Win13@ pe'mi the whees 34 fio be oscilavted; reatyeiy and heid in dei'enzia position Sucbjhat when the fimne :is turned to givetie pilot wheel 34 die px'eper suivie ir @he i'mew for sceering pm'gmges, the Whee will be turned .f-reign: as' in mgm Vmisel with the furrow.

show i am :a 2E? :and Said iik, thi'eugh zum 377 izo tum wheel 34,' a, Chimndiea'ef in Fig. -i und in dot'ed ines in 30M ex'eming Fig. :2. 'En ordinary plowing operations the iec Leie@ in web i :We been turned toward ineeeee in Fig. 3, and conneoieci to the stub axle 36, Shaft is 'vertically slidable in the sleeve 9 and, of eonrse, turning ei slieftl wiil oorresponriingiy turn the sleeve i9 in iis bearings in iienges 2) end 30 n'iiio1 through ernis i8 and e? and eoni'ieeing bar 50 wiii eorresponriingiy turn eiwit L-'i emi oseiiiete Wheels sind. 3o in unison, the erre 55? on slieit being exactly *Vlie seine in connectien enel. operation es lies elreeiy been de scribed with reepeoi io ilie showing in Fig.

Means ere bei' upon platform of Une engine, e segment are 5i eniens reerwer neetii iiie "freine member 25, e gniiielvlip 55 operating to'iiold the saine in proper releiive position to 'seid renie member. A bracket 56 is secured to the top of member rovided with. two arms 57 and provided vfor oscillating cross the pivotel bolt from the To eceompiish this,

58. lin a, eating in arm and another bearing formeel in e .bracket 58 secured to the side off' ire-nie member is jonrneief e vertical slie't 59 having it its lower end e spinei 6i) meshing Wiili geo-r segment 5e. Adjacentilie other enel of shaft. 59 e worn?. Wlieei Gi in inesii with :i Worin 6&2 on a sleeve iieving ineen-ings in erin 58 and enoiiierbeering extension 64 on bracket 56. The sieee is provided Wii'ii a square hole -in'wliieli siidee a square shaft 65 connecten by universel yoint 6G 'with the end of steering rod i8 erieniied through iront axle '13.

Means for raising'tne steering apparatus consisting of en ere member 6T einending beneath freine 25 :incl operated by cable 68 and drum 69 are ciisoloeed end claimed in Patent Number ei, anni need not be further described herein.

When ioe furrow eteeing apparatus is empioyech the olieins 19 and 20 will be eliseenneotefl from shaft 18. Upon turning lie siem-ing Wheel 25, the shaft i8 will loe cerrespon" cl3 A I eket cliziin 22 emi through 'universel joint- 66 this will turn Square shaft end sleeve 6B which, through Worm 627 VWorin Wheel 61 and gem.' 60, anni segment 5e will turn the frame 312' upon tne pivot -pin As the Wheels and. more over the ground7 if lfiey are engnie'rly (i'sioseri7 they 'will operaie to turn the stub exie le to which they are oonneeteol by freine elle other stub axle M being correspondingly `turned through con neoion i7 which Wiil have the ei'ect of steering the engine l'ie seine as would, be true if die engine steering wheels were operuied oy seering chains i9 and 20, the siiriing engegeineni upon square shaft G5 end sleeve 53 perniiting the Variation in length oi' this connection which must keke piece when freine 25. is osoilletei with eine axle le end Wheel 1Q. iiien the furrow piiot wlieei is user for ,guiding une engine in oonl l l l i i l l l l l i l l l nection with plowing, the `Wiieei 34C Wiii 'be seb by ineens inst described se ie inrn in end. img loe ienele-iele Weil oil tne furrow., By reason of 'the use ofi the spire gear worm Wheei on the oF sie-eve 53, the wheels will be rocked set. i1?? now point in tiie furrow is eneenfiere Where tiie sofie fell oecii eo es' to iii where e 4ploi'v' cerne one iii-e previene reelnciA so inail the furrow iierniinei/es, iiie .piiot Wheel 3e will loe reisen ein; oi the inrrow. Bui, oy reason time eonneotin-g iini;

@to the erin 37, die raising ofeeid wlieei will swing lie seme on its pivoilred 37 or sleeve pivot 41,9, according lizo which form is used, so es to turn it in. the opposi'e direction wih ehe result iliet ilie piio Wiieei will go over che o-'bsrnetion oioeing the intron and be turned boek inte the ifnrrow, again io enoonner the furrow to loe ounii. So, oe.l any tendency oi the wheel to climb the well of ziie furrow? eine to its being broken oi' soft oir from the Wheel 'being sei` in :oo much of :in angie will et once be eompeneeei for reason that es soon es the wiieei begins to rise it ie turned beek and before reaching the top of the furrow eiently tnrneri so that ii, Wiii again seek the boi'oin of tlie furrow. Time, 'i *orovide en ebsoineiy automatic furrow sieering device which will guide the engine, neit oniy when liere is e perfect furrow te oiiov ont Where the furrow is more or ieee 'broken enel filled and even nfiiere iiere ere streiohee of no furrow et oli. The evioe is simple in structure and by reason of die manner of connecting the seine wien the operating mechanism of iiie sieei'ing; Wheels of the engine proper maybe epi'ilied wien' extreme and may be used. An oonneeiLiG-n with such engine very reerliiy when the is employed for plowing; nnposes.

i cleiinrn i' l. steering derieel 35er Lrzieion' engines comprising e pilot Wiieei, ineens eonneeing seid wheel with the sie-erin@ .fiieeis of the engine, including ineens 'or perniiiiiinrg the pilot. Wheel to more verieeliy reiaiiveiy to Weil Where such is ing with 'the piloil whe-el osciilei/ing the seme in e horizontal piene when it is moved -vertically. f

2. A steering (ievioeior imei-ion engines comprising e piiot WheeL e 'freine connected with the steering eine of tl e iraeion engine in which said pilo` wheel is ionrneied for 'Vertieei sliding inm'efneni-e ineens on rile engine luider the eoniroi of iiie opernor for oscillating foe piiot, Wiieei, and nieiins anto metieeliy operating to Coseiileie seifi Wheel when ine seine nieves up or down,

i steering devise for treciion engines comprising e freine conn-ee fiile the 'steering eine of' inne engine ii. vomi movethe connecting ineens, end ineens eoperatileV men? in vertical plane, vll-'eel i 1;imale fl j on Said fiume im' suppoiing the same7 n. pilot Wheel having fue axle thereof mounted foi' veical mov'emen'll in seid frame, said piles Wheel being aclnped no run in the im row. enel means eeiuieecd he @with for m1- tomeiea'ly ceeillating the wl'ieel in opp@ site direcaiens as the Wheel rises mul falls in the furrow.

4. A steering device for tmeion comprising .fi frame connected 'WL the seei'mg axle @l Elie engine for pivotal move-- Ament in a veitieal plane, :i wheel omnalc/l on saifl ame for supgering the sa pilot Wheel having the exis tliez'ee mmm for verel movement sail iframe, Said pilot Wheel being adapted t0 fun in the ful'- row.; and means conneeed therewith fm' au- 'lo'matically oscillating the Wheel toward ih@ landside ofthe furl-6W when the Wheel descends and toward the plewed lanci when the Wheel ises.

5. A steering devi/:e 'for lleclion engines comprising a piloi Wheel, means connecting said Wheel with the steering Wheels of the engine, incluflizg means for permitting the pilot- W'heel to move vertically relu tively te the connecting meane, means under the Control of lie operator lfm* oscillating said Wheel from tlm engine to steer the same. and means for. y:1i-llama'iez'xlly mseillainf; lie pilot Wheel when the same is nmved vel-tl cally.

6. A sieeing'device iff-9i. traction engin@ comprising a liz-1mmcminecetl willi lliefeei ing axle i.. the engine im' pivetfxl immemen in vertical plane, crosse axle jmmmleel on said frame, will' nl Wheel? uz'nnleil on the eros-S :xxle one of which is nmvnble vertically in the (r1-ose. mi e, nml hmmm umle'z the contre! of the mgm-nlm' 'for escillnug smid axle :md 'wheels from llicengine.

7. A slewing (levi/e "r'mf 'l'nl'mx exigir cwmpl'isingg :n Frame cmmec'eil Willi ll'leileeiing axle of Hw :exilim 'for gvoml mmfemem in zi Vertical pinne. n en :axle jmnnnieil mi Said frame. :i mir of wheels jmxnnled mi the emes :ir-:le me of which is mui/'able vexfti'zxllv, um! means; mmneefil with the steering; nwehzmimn of the engine for 0sf-.illatzng said axle and wheel.

8. El ateeriutg lei/ic@ for tuctien engines cemprieing a :frame ccmneoied with the seermgg axle of the engine for mvol'al move ment in e vertical plane. :i crois :axle jouw xmled on smid 'an'm nml comprising a Segment geni'. a. verlie! shall 0n frame nvm/ideal with e. gem in mesh wih Said ment gen?? n worm wheel on will fahe' rml, ifi www. on 'ille 'und in m will. sui worm wheel. nml means under ilse f'zfmml off ille uwnlm' lm' znhii'egg' ille wzl.

il, J wlevii'e lim l1 emrin'isi: .imm-1, fifi-feline axle l meme@ ment a vertice'. provided with e: geel" in' M Segment gear, n Worm Wheel en said Sheff.. fm a. rod, a worm en 'he rofl ,in mesh with seid Worm Wheel, and means @annealed with h@ steering; :mechanism of ille meel-i en gine for rotating the rofl.

10. A sieering device for @action engines comprising a frame. Colmeeled Willi the seering axle of the engine foi" pivotal movement in a Vefieal plane, a cross joui. naleil on said frame and comprising :i mem gear, u Y-ei'tical Shafi- Gn ille irme@ p- $0 vided with :i gear in mesh willi said Segmen, gem, a. worm wheel on smid Shaft, a Tod. worm on die rml in mesh with said Wol-zza Wheel, a. steering rmlextmiding leigim lmlly beneath t'liegfmme of the lmctein en '9,5 gine uml Commented by universal jeiiit Willi ih@ .wuiwwd, uid means fe? miel-ing;- ille steering rod.

ll. A :steering devi er fr: ffmrxpr f :1 frau erf/lined' steel-in" um m die engine 'm w m, mem' l.. l vffi'ienl plane. L (fr i milled mi said frame mul minimising fr. seg ment n. verlive lll' fm Ille lumi;

'vided will: :l 159:11!" in naw-lz will: Hv-

pm'nllel .AJ

l?. A. Hering fluir- 2 .'x.' mummia in ille i'f lmww' eide llmw: u'mxil: ille i'i'mif mule?" he mmm" ing ,will film l in :1 i"\.'=.xn:-lf nl he engine for Jig ille. Rame wlmi plowing nml met-ems epei'niiv'ely commuting aid pilot wheel. and slxxz'll'lwivliei'e by relation if die shaft will f rstillmje ille le pilo Wheel.

13. A steering device for iwfien engines f comprising' n. .frame eonneel'ecl With lie steering :lxle of the engine, n ewes axle held relatively fixed mi said 3ft-same. n pair of 26 wheels jmunzlled In said cross axle for esfeillnton :about vertical axes, nnefe" said wheels being movable veicnlly. mezme een meeting' .Quid wheels le @galliate in unix-mii. :xml means Connected Willi ille l nmvnble wheel fm" aulonm'lically e@ nff :ni-fl 'wheels when i'f vetieally' m.

steeiin ,axle of the engine, a cross axle held re atively ixe on sa imma, a pair ot" Wheels journaled in said cross' axe for 0scllatn 'about'vexjtcal axes, the axes o1" one of said Wheels being vertricaly sldabe in its bearing :mv afm on sa sdable ms! and a' md connectedwih mid arm and with a xed part of the frame so that movement of the said axis and arm verticaly will operate to oscllnte the varm and Wheel.

.15. A steering device ier traction engines comprising a frame connected with the Steering axle of the engine, acfoss axe held relavey xed on the x'eme, a paix.' of Wheels js-unaled in se @foss axle for es vWit-messes:

eillaton about vert-ca ames, the axes of one of said Wheels being Vercalysdable in its bearing, a spring opel-Ming normaly to held said axis and Wheel in lowered positen, an arm 0n Said Sldube axis, and a rnd couneced Wih said arm and with e xed part of the frame so thai; movement of the said axis am! arm vertcny wi operate to osellate the zum and Wheel. ntesxnony wherenf ture in presence ef two Wnesses.

EDY/VIN M. WHEELOCK.

R. H. JACOBSON, H. A. BOWMAN.

nia'. my sgm- 25 

